Oil cartridge burner assembly

ABSTRACT

A method of manufacturing a decorative lamp burner assembly is disclosed. The method includes providing a fuel canister having an opening for receiving fuel, providing a cap having a wick holder, affixing a wick guide member to the cap, inserting a wick through the guide member and into the wick holder, and inserting the guide member containing the wick into the fuel canister through the opening and affixing the cap onto the opening in the fuel canister.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to decorative lighting in general and, morespecifically, to fuel cartridges for use in decorative lightingassemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lawn torches, table top torches, and other decorative torches are inhigh demand, both for aesthetic reasons as well as for utilitarianpurposes such as lighting and dispersing scents and insect repellants.Decorative lighting assemblies may be provided without a fuel supply, inwhich case the user will need to provide fuel prior to using thelighting assembly. The fuel supply may become exhausted with use, inwhich case the customer will need to refill the lighting assembly.

Some decorative lighting assemblies provide a burner assembly with aremovable top. This allows the customer access to the fuel reservoir orcanister for refilling. However, refilling of the fuel canister can beone of the more negative aspects of using a decorative lightingassembly. The user is required to handle a burner, which may be coveredin soot and have a fuel soaked and charred wick attached. The user mustalso handle volatile and odorous fuels. Furthermore, the fill openingmay be quite small depending upon the lighting assembly, which leads tomessy, and even dangerous, spills.

What is needed is a system and method for addressing the above andrelated issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspectthereof, comprises a method of manufacturing a decorative lamp oilcartridge burner assembly. The method includes providing a fuel canisterhaving an opening for receiving fuel, providing a cap having a wickholder, and affixing a wick guide member to the cap. A wick is insertedthrough the guide member and into the wick holder. The guide membercontaining the wick is inserted into the fuel canister through theopening and the cap is affixed onto the opening in the fuel canister.

The method may also include filling the fuel canister with fuel prior toaffixing the cap. In some embodiment, the cap is permanently affixed.The wick guide may be tubular, may be attached to the cap in a frictionfit relationship.

In some embodiments, the wick is a doubled strand of woven wick with adoubled end inserted through the wick holder and two lose ends proximatea distal end of the wick guide. The wick may be fiberglass.

The fuel canister may be sufficiently transparent to allow visualexamination of the fuel level therethrough. The canister may have anouter profile adapted to interfit with a burner assembly receptacle of adecorative lamp.

The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in another aspectthereof, comprises an oil cartidge burner assembly. The assemblyincludes a fuel reservoir having an opening proximate a top thereof andcontaining a liquid fuel. A cap defines a wick opening and is attachedto the opening of the fuel reservoir. A guide member attaches to the capand extends into the fuel reservoir. A wick extends from inside the fuelreservoir to outside the fuel reservoir through the guide member and thewick opening.

In some embodiments, the wick terminates on a first end beyond the wickholder and terminates on a second end inside the fuel reservoir, beyondthe guide member. The wick may be a doubled segment of wick materialforming a loop on the first end and two lose pieces on the second end.

In some embodiments, the guide member is a tubular member attached tothe cap via a friction fit.

The cap is double walled and attached to the fuel reservoir via theouter wall and attaches to the guide member via the inner wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a decorative lamp burner assemblyaccording to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an inferior perspective view of an assembled cap assembly fora decorative lamp burner assembly according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side cutaway view of the decorative lamp burner assembly ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing thedecorative lamp burner assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective of a decorative lawn torch utilizing thedecorative lamp burner assembly according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a decorative lamp burnerassembly according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Theburner assembly 100 in the present embodiment includes a fuel reservoir102 with a neck 104. The fuel reservoir 102 may be made of a transparentor a translucent material, such as plastic or glass. In this manner, theamount of fuel remaining in the reservoir 102 may be ascertained by auser without disassembling the burner assembly 100.

A cap assembly 106 attaches to the neck 104 in the present embodiment.The cap assembly 106 defines a passage or opening serving as wick holder108. It can be seen that the wick holder 108 is on a first end 110 ofthe cap assembly 106. A second end 112 of the cap assembly 106 is flaredin the present embodiment, and sized to interfit with the neck 104 ofthe fuel reservoir 102.

The cap assembly 106 may be made from a metal or an alloy. In oneembodiment, the cap assembly 106 will be made from tin plated steel. Inthe present embodiment, the wick holder 108, defined in the first end110, comprises a hole in the first end 110. The wick holder 108 may besized to accommodate the wick 116. In the present embodiment, the wick116 comprises a doubled portion of a wicking cord or other material witha first looped end 118 protruding through the wick holder 108 and asecond lose end 120 in the interior of the fuel reservoir 102 in contactwith a fuel 122. The wick 116 may be woven or braided and may comprisecotton, polymers, fiberglass, or other polymers. Furthermore, someembodiments will provide a single segment of wick rather than thedoubled segment shown.

A guide member 114 that attaches to the interior of the cap assembly 106ensures that the second end 120 of the wick 118 is sufficiently deep inthe fuel reservoir 102 to contact the fuel 122. As will be explainedbelow, the guide member 114 may also be useful in manufacturing of theburner assembly 100.

The guide member 114 may comprise a segment of plastic pipe or tubing.In other embodiments, the guide member 114 is made from the samematerial as the cap assembly 106.

The liquid fuel 122 may be a mineral spirit, petroleum naptha, or aparaffin-based fuel. The fuel 122 may contain scented oils or otheragents and may also contain insect repellant chemicals, citronella, orother useful substances.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an inferior perspective view of an assembledcap assembly for a decorative lamp burner assembly according to aspectsof the present disclosure is shown. From this viewpoint, it can be seenthat the second flared end 112 of the cap assembly 106 is double walled,providing an inner wall 202 and an outer wall 204. The guide member 114can be seen inserted into the interior of the cap assembly 106 definedby the inner wall 202.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a side cutaway view of the decorative lampburner assembly of FIG. 1 is shown. From this viewpoint, the path of thewick 116 traveling through the guide member 114 can be seen. The guidemember 114 may be press-fit (friction fit or interference fit) into thecap assembly 106. In other embodiments, the guide member 114 may beattached with a heat resistant adhesive.

The outer wall 204 attaches to the neck 104 of the fuel reservoir 102 inthe preferred embodiment. This fitting may be a friction fit or aninterference fit. In one embodiment, the neck 104 and the outer wall 204will be threaded to provide for a threading engagement of the capassembly 106 to the fuel reservoir 102. In another embodiment, the innerwall 202 will extend toward the outer wall 204 to the point where itcomes in contact with the neck 104 of the fuel reservoir 102. In thismanner, the inner and outer wall 204 will provide a friction fit seal onthe neck 104.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a flow diagram illustrating a method ofmanufacturing the decorative lamp burner assembly of FIG. 1 is shown.From the method illustrated in FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that theguide member 114 is effective to assist in manufacturing the decorativeburner assembly 100. In the manufacturing process, the guide member 114serves to effectively guide the wick 116 to the interior of the fuelreservoir 102.

Beginning at step 402, the cap is formed. The cap referred to may be thecap assembly 106. Moving to step 404, the guide member 114 will beattached to the cap assembly 106. At step 406, the wick will be insertedinto the guide member 114. As previously described, in one embodiment,the wick will be a doubled strand of wicking material with the loop end118 proceeding through the wick holder 108 defined by the first end 110of the cap assembly 106. The loose end 120 of the wick 116 may protrudebeyond the guide member 114.

Following insertion of the wick at step 406, the entire cap assembly106, including the wick 116 and the guide member 114, can be insertedinto the fuel reservoir 102. As previously described, the cap 106 willbe affixed to the neck 104 of the fuel reservoir 102. Utilizing theguide member 114 to restrain and guide the wick 116 into the fuelreservoir 102, automated manufacturing of the burner assembly 100 may beaided. The guide member 114 prevents the wick 116 from interfering withthe closure of the cap assembly 106 onto the fuel reservoir 102.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a perspective of a decorative lawn torchutilizing the decorative lamp burner assembly according to the presentdisclosure is shown. Here, it can be seen that the lawn torch 500provides a decorative basket 502 that serves as a receptacle for theburner assembly 100. The decorative basket 502 is attached to a mountingpole 504. In the present embodiment, the pole 504 is inserted into aground surface 506 to support the torch 500.

It will be appreciated that the burner assembly 100 will be compatiblewith many different types of torches, such as garden torches and tabletop torches. In one embodiment, it is contemplated that the burnerassembly 100 will form a sealed unit such that when the fuel supply inthe fuel reservoir 102 is exhausted, the user will discard the entireburner assembly 100 and replace it with a new, fully fueled burnerassembly.

From the forgoing description, one skilled in the art can easilyascertain the essential characteristics of the invention and, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof, make various changes andmodifications to adapt it to various usages.

Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectivesand attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as thoseinherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have beendescribed for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes andmodifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of thisinvention as defined by the claims.

1. A method of manufacturing a decorative lamp oil cartridge burnerassembly, comprising: providing a fuel canister having an opening forreceiving fuel; providing a cap having a wick holder; affixing a wickguide member to the cap; inserting a wick through the guide member andinto the wick holder; and inserting the guide member containing the wickinto the fuel canister through the opening and affixing the cap onto theopening in the fuel canister.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising filling the fuel canister with fuel prior to inserting theguide member containing the wick into the fuel canister through theopening and affixing the cap onto the opening of the fuel canister. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the guide member containing thewick into the fuel canister through the opening and affixing the caponto the opening of the fuel canister further comprises permanentlyaffixing the cap onto the opening of the fuel via a threaded connection.4. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting a wick through the guidemember and into the wick holder further comprises inserting a doubledstrand of woven wick with a doubled end through the wick holder and twolose ends proximate a distal end of the wick guide.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein inserting a wick through the guide member and into thewick holder further comprises inserting a doubled strand of wick with adoubled end through the wick holder and two lose ends proximate a distalend of the wick guide.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein affixing a wickguide member to the cap further comprises affixing the wick guide to thecap in a friction fit relationship.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinaffixing a wick guide member to the cap further comprise attaching atubular wick guide to the cap in a friction fit relationship.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein providing a fuel canister further comprisesproviding a fuel canister sufficiently transparent to allow visualexamination of the fuel level therethrough.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein providing a fuel canister further comprises providing a fuelcanister having an outer profile adapted to interfit with a burnerassembly receptacle of a decorative lamp.
 10. A method of manufacturinga burner assembly comprising: forming a double-walled cap defining awick opening on a top side and a flared opening on a bottom side, theflared opening being in communication with the wick opening on the topside; forming a tubular wick guide having an inner and outer diameter,the inner diameter being sized to pass a doubled wick in a manner notsubstantially impeding a wicking ability of the wick, the outer diameterbeing sized to interfit with the flared opening in a friction fitrelationship; inserting the tubular wick guide containing a doubled wickinto the flared opening into a friction fit relationship with the flaredopening to create a cap assembly; inserting a doubled end of the wickinto the wick opening on the top side of the cap; and attaching the capassembly to a fuel reservoir having an opening by inserting the wickguide containing the wick into the opening and affixing an outer wall ofthe flared opening of the cap to the fuel reservoir.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, further comprising substantially filling the fuel reservoirwith a liquid fuel.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein attaching thecap assembly further comprises attaching the cap assembly to a threadedportion of the fuel reservoir.
 13. The method of claim 10, whereinattaching the cap assembly further comprises attaching the cap assemblyin an interference fit with the fuel reservoir.
 14. The method of claim10, wherein forming a double-walled cap further comprises forming thedouble walled cap of a metallic material.
 15. The method of claim 10,wherein forming a tubular wick guide further comprising forming atubular wick guide from a plastic material.
 16. An oil cartidge burnerassembly comprising; a fuel reservoir having an opening proximate a topthereof and containing a liquid fuel; a cap defining a wick opening andattached to the opening of the fuel reservoir; a guide member attachedto the cap and extending into the fuel reservoir; and a wick extendingfrom inside the fuel reservoir to outside the fuel reservoir through theguide member and the wick opening.
 17. The burner assembly of claim 16,wherein the wick terminates on a first end beyond the wick holder andterminates on a second end inside the fuel reservoir, beyond the guidemember.
 18. The burner assembly of claim 17, wherein the wick is adoubled segment of wick material forming a loop on the first end and twolose pieces on the second end.
 19. The burner assembly of claim 16,wherein the guide member is a tubular member attached to the cap via afriction fit.
 20. The burner assembly of claim 19, wherein the cap isdouble walled and attaches to the fuel reservoir via the outer wall andattaches to the guide member via the inner wall.